Dolmen Tomb

To see the Late Bronze Age Dolmen Tombs, go northwards on the Yavuzeli to Araban road. Called gavrikul (stones with holes) by locals, the tombs are 2 km north of the hamlet of Akkuyu near Küçükkarakuyu Village.

A dolmen is a megalithic, single-chambered tomb, consisting of a giant, flat stone block laid on top of three upright ones. The fallen stones of another ruined tomb can be seen next to the intact dolmen. Further stones in this 850 m2 area in the limestone foothills of Karadağ, are evidence that there were once numerous dolmens here.

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Rumkale Tour and Alternative

If you pass by the village of Şenlikçe to the east of Yavuzeli, don’t miss the house with Roman remains in the garden. The 1.5 ton limestone sarcophagus is just lying in the garden of a village house. It was discovered during digging for sewage works, and dates from the Roman period.

Travelling southwest from Balıklıgöl and turning right onto an asphalt road after one km, the Yarımca Quarry is about 500 m along, on the barren hillside to the left. The stones quarried here were used in the nearby Roman road and bridge. On the vertical cut face of the quarry is carved a relief depicting a god, and an eagle on the left.

Going southwest from Balıklıgöl for one km and following the path to the left, you will reach the Sultan Murad Bridge via a route running parallel to the Merzimen Stream. The road is rough, but still passable by car. The bridge, which dates from 200 AD, is surrounded by mountains.

Balıklıgöl is in the village of Yarımca, about 10 km east of Yavuzeli. Proceed past the fields surrounded by pistachio trees, and over the Ibrahim Alan bridge.

Nobody eats the fish in this 250 m2 pool as they are considered sacred. Local people explain that the fish arise spontaneously in the natural underground spring which wells up here. The wishing trees around the pool are festooned with rags symbolizing the many wishes they have perhaps helped come true.

To see the Late Bronze Age Dolmen Tombs, go northwards on the Yavuzeli to Araban road. Called gavrikul (stones with holes) by locals, the tombs are 2 km north of the hamlet of Akkuyu near Küçükkarakuyu Village.

A dolmen is a megalithic, single-chambered tomb, consisting of a giant, flat stone block laid on top of three upright ones. The fallen stones of another ruined tomb can be seen next to the intact dolmen. Further stones in this 850 m2 area in the limestone foothills of Karadağ, are evidence that there were once numerous dolmens here.

The 30-metre-high tumulus you will see when you come to the town of Yavuzeli is known as Cingife Castle, Cingife being the former name of the town. According to hearsay, the name derives from a Genoese settlement that existed here at an uncertain date in the past.

Fortress walls and stones from ramparts appear in various places on the sides of the mound. Closer examination reveals traces of Early Bronze Age buildings. Yavuzeli grew up around the tumulus and the town’s first houses, made of mudbrick, can be seen today on the east, south, and west sides of the tumulus. At the top of the mound is a concrete building and transmitting antenna.

The Akdeğirmen Bridge is on the Merzimen Stream, 4 km south of Ballık Village and 28 km along the old Gaziantep to Yavuzeli road travelling northwest.

The bridge is built of ashlar and is well-preserved. It spans the Merzimen Stream from north to south; and is 60 metres long, 5 metres wide and 4 metres high. It has a total of six arches, one main pointed arch flanked by smaller ones.

The ruins of the Saraymağara Watchtower are about 25 km northeast of Dülük Village, by the side of the road linking the villages of Saraymağara and Büyükkarakuyu.

The tower was on the ancient road connecting Doliche and Samosata in Roman times, and traces of the road can still be seen. Seven rows of the northeast wall of the watchtower are still standing at the entrance to a vineyard house, but the other walls are largely destroyed. Nowadays, rather than an ancient ruin, it seems more like a recently demolished part of the house next door.